ICC to temporary on final result of talks with PCB over Pakistan–India T20 World Cup row

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi held extended discussions with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam and a delegation from the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC), together with Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja, at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday over the Pakistan–India T20 World Cup row.

Sources aware of the matter, talking on the situation of anonymity, mentioned the talks with the ICC delegation had been performed in a cordial environment. After detailed deliberations on key points, Khawaja is anticipated to temporary the ICC on the result of the assembly.

The sources added that Pakistan offered its considerations and place comprehensively, backing its stance with detailed arguments. Through the assembly, Khawaja urged Pakistan to rethink its resolution to not play towards India, saying the workforce ought to take part “within the broader curiosity of cricket.”

Khawaja additionally expressed help for the positions of Pakistan and Bangladesh on sure issues and warranted each boards that their considerations could be conveyed and addressed on the ICC stage.

The ICC is anticipated to tell the PCB throughout the subsequent couple of days of its response to Pakistan’s situations and proposals.

Within the subsequent part, Naqvi is about to temporary Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the issues mentioned. He made it clear throughout the talks that the ultimate resolution rests with the Authorities of Pakistan.

In accordance with a PCB assertion, Naqvi welcomed Islam and Khawaja upon their arrival. Through the assembly, officers mentioned the continued T20 World Cup scenario involving Pakistan and India.

“BCB President Aminul Islam thanked Pakistan for its help,” the assertion added.Additionally current on the assembly had been Pakistan Tremendous League (PSL) Chief Government Officer Salman Naseer and Adviser to the PCB Chairman Amir Mir.

The event comes after the Pakistan determined that the nationwide workforce wouldn’t take the sector for its scheduled match towards India on February 15. Pakistan will, nonetheless, compete within the the rest of the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Any conflict between arch-rivals Pakistan and India is without doubt one of the most profitable in cricket, value thousands and thousands of {dollars} in broadcast, sponsorship and promoting income. However the fixture was thrown into doubt after the federal authorities ordered the workforce to not play the match in Colombo.

Earlier within the day, ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja arrived in Lahore and was acquired on the airport by Adviser to the PCB Chairman Amir Mir.

“Throughout his go to, Khawaja is scheduled to fulfill Chairman Mohsin Naqvi,” PCB mentioned.

BCB President Aminul Islam landed at Lahore airport, the place PCB Chief Government Officer Salman Naseer welcomed him. “We warmly welcome our esteemed visitor to Pakistan,” the PCB mentioned.

In accordance with the PCB, Aminul Islam will meet Chairman Naqvi and also will attend conferences throughout his go to.

The T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, is now dealing with renewed uncertainty as political issues intersect with cricketing commitments. A Pakistan–India conflict is historically the match’s greatest industrial draw, and Pakistan’s refusal may power the ICC to revisit scheduling or points-allocation eventualities.

Regardless of opting out of the India match, Pakistan’s participation in the remainder of the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 alerts a calibrated method somewhat than a full boycott, following days of hypothesis linked to the Bangladesh subject and regional tensions.

The ICC has known as on the PCB to discover a mutually acceptable answer after Pakistan introduced it could boycott its match towards India in the principle occasion.

Learn Extra: PCB ‘categorically rejects’ Indian journalist’s declare of approaching ICC on T20 World Cup row

In a statement, the ICC mentioned that selective participation “is troublesome to reconcile with the elemental premise of a worldwide sporting occasion” the place all certified groups are anticipated to compete on equal phrases in line with the match schedule. The council additionally famous that it’s nonetheless awaiting official communication from the PCB.

“ICC tournaments are constructed on the rules of sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and equity,” the assertion mentioned, including that selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of worldwide competitions.

A day earlier, PCB categorically rejected claims by Indian sports activities journalist Vikrant Gupta that the board had approached the ICC over the scenario across the match between the Indian and Pakistani cricket groups.

Gupta claimed in a publish on X at present: “PCB has now reached out to ICC for a dialogue on the India-Pakistan World Cup after the ICC replied to their official communication”.

Responding to him, PCB spokesperson Amir Mir mentioned, “I categorically reject the declare by Indian sports activities journalist Vikrant Gupta that PCB approached the ICC. As ordinary, sections of the Indian media are busy circulating fiction. Just a little persistence and time will clearly present who truly went knocking and who didn’t”.

The absence of Bangladesh from the match has already solid a shadow over the occasion. Bangladesh had been faraway from the T20 World Cup 2026 and changed by Scotland, a call that drew criticism from a number of quarters, together with Pakistan, over what was described as inconsistent therapy by the ICC.

Bangladesh’s alternative — following disputes associated to internet hosting preparations, safety considerations and scheduling beneath the hybrid mannequin involving India and Sri Lanka — intensified debate over governance and equity in worldwide cricket, with Pakistan earlier expressing solidarity with Bangladesh throughout the row.